Useful links

1. FACTSnet Japan Tours
2. Alberta School Curriculum Resources
3. Visiting Japan - Resources
4. Alberta/Japan Events & Projects 
5. Alberta/Japan Relations
6. Life in Alberta & Japan  

FACTSnet Japan Tours

FACTSnet tours offer pre & post tour networking with links related to the Alberta K-12 curriculum. Japan is a fascinating place to visit, with its ancient culture (we will focus on the Edo and Meiji periods, Alberta Grade 8 curriculum) beautiful landscape (sea and mountains) and its modern facilities.  Tours are organized by FACTs and other groups who want to participate in our network.  If you follow the Curriculum tour a visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb devastation will give a new perspective on war (grade 11 curriculum)  Other stops on the tour relate to either the grade 8 or 11 curriculum or both.    We suggest using travel by local transportation (instead of a tour bus) and JR rail, super trains.

December:

Our itinerary was as follows: Tokyo (Dec. 17 - 21), Towada (Dec. 22-24) , and Sapporo (Dec. 24-26)  Tokyo (Dec. 28).  We contacted people in preparation for future tours.  Our time in Towada was a highlight.  Email factsc@gmail.com for more information.

Spring Break Tour:

This tour is similar to the December tour and will continue to develop Alberta/Japan Relationships in the Osaka Kyoto area (March 27-31) and in the Tokyo area (April 1-8).   Email factsc@gmail.com for more information.

Generic Alberta Curriculum Tour:

1. Day 1: Fly overnight to Japan
2. Day 2: Tokyo
   • Arrive in Tokyo
3. Day 3: Tokyo (Rest Day)
   
   • Visits  (Several options - We will arrange guides for smaller groups)
     
   • Visit Holy Resurrection Cathedral
   • Options for diner and rest. 
4. Day 4: Tokyo
   • Visit the Edo-Tokyo Museum
   • Visit the Meiji Shinto Shrine  Shrine
   • Optional activities in Tokyo (tour group decides) like.
   • Visit the Harajuku shopping district.
   • Visit other Museums.
5. Day 5:Tokyo - Kyoto
   
• Travel by bullet train to Kyoto
• Optional activities in Tokyo or Kyoto (tour group decides).
6. Day 6: Kyoto
• Visit the Imperial Palace
• Visit Nijo Castle
• Visit Ryoan-ji
• Visit Gold Pavilion
  
• Options for diner and the evening. 
7. Day 7: Kyoto - Nagasaki
   
   • Travel by train to Nagasaki
   • Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan
   • Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
8. Day 8: Nagasaki
   
   • Dejima
   • Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
   • Nagasaki Peace Park
   • Nyoko-do Hermitage
   • Urakami Cathedral
9. Day 9: Depart for home

Tour extensions  (The whole group, smaller groups and individuals may decide to extend their tour).  Below are some of the options:

1. Visit  Universal studios in Osaka. .
2. Visit Himeji Castle
3. Tokyo Disneyland
4. Visit one of Japan's many resorts.
5. Teach English
6. Visit friends and/or sister groups to Canadian organizations.

For each tour we purchase Round-trip flights, JR rail passes and hotels as a tour group.  Each tour group decides on their pricing and options to add to the tour price.  For more info. on tour groups and pricing email factsc@gmail.com.  Larger tour groups (more than 6) will subdivided into groups of 7 or less with one of the members of this group being a group leader.  For example, a group from a school division may consist of a teacher as a group leader, two parents and 4 students.   If you are interested in being a group leader please indicate that in your email.

Entrance fees for the following will need to be purchased by tour subgroups or by the whole tour group: Meiji Shinto Shrine • Holy Resurrection Cathedral• Edo-Tokyo Museum • Imperial Palace in Kyoto • Nijo Castle • Ryoan-ji  • Gold Pavilion • Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan • Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture • Dejima • Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum • Nagasaki Peace Park • Nyoko-do Hermitage • Urakami Cathedral

Optional:

In each city there are several other sites that could be visited some smaller subgroups may want to add these sites or to substitute these sites - see Historical Places to Visit in Japan Index.  (We may also find that the whole group wants to change sites).

Email factsc@gmail.com for more information on any of our tours.